Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison concludes 50th anniversary season

(Photo by Gerry Goodstein)The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey production of Moliere's The Misanthrope,was offered in 2011.

The 50th Anniversary season of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey concludes with the rarely performed comedic gem “Trelawny of the Wells” by renowned Victorian playwright Sir Arthur Wing Pinero. Performances begin Dec. 5 and continue through Dec. 30, at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the box office at 973-408-5600 or by visiting ShakespeareNJ.org.

Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. A special family matinee will be held on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $32 to $70; student rush tickets are available 30 minutes prior to curtain for $10.

Rose Trelawny, a young star of the London stage, gives up the theatre in order to marry Arthur Gower, her devoted suitor and a member of the aristocracy. When Rose discovers just how stuffy, stiff and repressed her new life will be, she flees back into the arms of her theatrical family and the warm glow of the footlights. From thence, the plot unfolds.

The last major production of “Trelawny” of the Wells in this region was at Lincoln Center in the mid-1970s and featured a cast of prominent theatre and film luminaries including Mary Beth Hurt, John Lithgow, Mandy Patinkin, and Meryl Streep.

“I assisted my mentor on a production of this play 30 years ago, and fell in love with it,” said Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte. “I’ve long wanted to direct a production of Trelawny…but have been waiting for a very special occasion; the finale of our 50th anniversary season is that perfect opportunity, for it’s a love letter to artists, their admirers, and the art of theatre all at once. It is especially fitting as a tribute to the thousands of actors who have graced our stages over the past five decades, and who have brought some of the world’s greatest plays to life for generations of audiences.”
The 13-member cast is comprised entirely of company members who, in total, have appeared on The Shakespeare Theatre stage nearly 100 times. The cast includes some of the Theatre’s younger company members as well as its eldest. “We’ve put together a troupe of stellar Shakespeare Theatre favorites,” said Monte.

Nisi Sturgis plays the young actress Rose Trelawny. Sturgis appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in leading roles in To Kill a Mockingbird, I Capture the Castle, Arms and The Man, and as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire opposite Laila Robins. On Broadway, she appeared in The 39 Steps. She has appeared in regional theatres across the nation and is a regular on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Jordan Coughtry plays Arthur Gower, Rose’s fiancée. Coughtry has appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in Amadeus, Servant of Two Masters, and Romeo and Juliet among many others, and at many of the nation’s major regional theatres.

John Patrick Hayden plays Tom Wrench, an actor and playwright. Hayden made his Shakespeare Theatre debut in last season’s “The Misanthrope” and has appeared on Broadway in “Tartuffe” and most recently in Hedda Gabler at Hartford Stage. Longtime senior company member Edmond Genest plays Sir William Gower. Some of Genest’s many Shakespeare Theatre credits include Accidental Death of an Anarchist, No Man’s Land, Noises Off, Around the World in Eighty Days, and King Lear. On Broadway, he appeared in The Elephant Man and A Few Good Men among many others.

Jennifer Harmon plays Mrs. Mossop. Harmon appeared at the Shakespeare Theatre in All’s Well that Ends Well and on Broadway in Other Desert Party, Amy’s View, The Little Foxes, School for Scandal, The Sisters Rosensweig, and Rumors among others. Shakespeare Theatre veteran Jon Barker plays Ferdinand Gadd. Barker recently appeared the Shakespeare Theatre productions of Henry IV, Part One, Othello, The Misanthrope and All’s Well That Ends Well among many others.

Caralyn Kozlowski plays Imogen Parrott. Kozlowski has appeared at the Shakespeare Theatre in The Servant of Two Masters, Three Sisters, and Private Lives among others. She has worked extensively in regional theatres throughout the country including Seattle Rep, South Coast Rep and The Old Globe. Most recently, she appeared in Maple and Vine at the City Theatre in Pittsburgh.

Also in the cast are Shakespeare Theatre veterans Elizabeth Shepherd (Pygmalion) as Mrs. Telfer, Jim Mohr (The Grapes of Wrath) as Mr. Telfer, and Matt Sullivan (The Comedy of Errors) as Ablett. Rounding out the cast are Connor Carew, Rachel Fox, and Erica Knight.

2012 marks Director Bonnie J. Monte’s 22nd season as artistic director of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Since 1990, she has directed 50 productions for the company, including most recently Man of La Mancha, Measure for Measure, A Christmas Carol, The Misanthrope and Othello, No Man’s Land, The Taming of the Shrew, and Hamlet. Her many adaptations of classic works, including Enrico IV, The Cherry Orchard and Pride and Prejudice have earned her critical acclaim. Her adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters was recently published by Playscripts, Inc.

Creating the world of Trelawny of the Wells are set designers Anita Easterling and Bonnie J. Monte, costume designer Hugh Hanson, lighting designer Tony Galaska. Kathy Snyder serves as production stage manager.

Single tickets for Trelawny of the Wells are now on sale and range from $32 to $70. Student Rush tickets are available a half-hour before curtain for $10 with a valid student ID. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount.

Discount preview performances for Trelawny of the Wells are Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m., and Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. These preview performances offer opportunities for reduced-priced tickets while enjoying the excitement of the very first performances in front of an audience. As always, the first preview performance is Pay What You Can night.

Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and curtain on Dec. 5 and purchase a ticket for that evening’s 7:30 p.m., preview performance for what you are able to pay (offer subject to availability).

For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, three Symposium Series performances are offered for each show and include a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Symposium performances for “Trelawny of the Wells” will be Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 15 and 22 at 2 p.m.

For each production, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7-7:30 p.m., an artist from The Shakespeare Theatre will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider’s perspective on the production. The Know the Show performance will be held on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders and subscribers. Tickets to that evening’s 8 p.m. performance may be purchased separately.

The 2 p.m. performance on Dec. 22, will be audio described for those who are blind or have visual impairments. Audio description enables patrons with visual impairments to hear, through an FM transmitter, a live description of the action on the stage. A pre-performance sensory seminar is offered that allows patrons to feel props, costumes and set pieces to further enhance their live theatrical experience. The service is offered free of charge.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Ave. (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free.

The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described. Contact the theatre for more information. The Outdoor Stage is located on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road in Morris Township.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.